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Willa sighed, feeling one hundred years old.
“No. No, I'm not.”
Minty shook her head, settled in close beside her and took her hand.
“The part of you that’s grieving? That part is.”
Willa lay her head back on the couch. Dark circles lay like bruises under her eyes, and her puffy eyelids were rimmed with red. She didn’t make a sound, but the tears trailed endlessly over her pale freckled cheeks while Minty stroked her hair back from her face.
Willa’s phone buzzed. She opened it and instantly sent a text before tossing it onto the coffee table.
“I yelled at Barrett,” she whispered.
“Mm-hmm. Tell me about that.”
“He was only trying to help but I don’t know how much of her is in me and I can’t take the risk of hurting him,” she choked out.
Her face crumpled again, and she lay her head against the back of the couch as if she could no longer bear its weight.
Minty stroked her hair back and cried her own silent tears, wondering if Willa knew she was in love with him.
“Beautiful lady, you have so much to offer. You are not your mother but you’re going to have to realize that for yourself.”
“You remind me of the nurse that day. She stroked my hair like this while I was waiting to go in. She was the only person who offered me any kindness.”
“You deserved kindness, much more than you received then or now,” Minty stated, working to keep her voice even.
“Did I? My Dad was so disappointed, and you can probably guess what my mother was like, worried about what everybody was going to say.” A fresh batch of tears followed the trail left by the others. “You know, not one person sat me down to ask me how I felt? Isn’t that wild?”
“It is tragic.”
“Thank you, Minty.”
“It’s the truth, sweetheart.”
“Barrett would make a good father. He is truly a good person. Probably, the best person I know. He’s smart. Like you. He just knows things. How can he like me?” She hiccoughed a sob.
“You are infinitely likeable.”
She nodded. Minty noticed it was what she did to end a conversation when she didn’t agree.
“I’m so tired. Will you stay with me?”
“Of course.” Minty rose from the couch. “Lie down here.” She tucked a pillow under Willa’s head, covered her with a blanket, then settled in beside her.
“Did I ever tell you about the asshole doctors?”
“You have, but you can tell me again if you like,” Minty soothed.
“They were assholes.”
“Yes, they were,” Minty agreed. “Their carelessness with you is a black mark on their souls.”
“Will you keep an eye on my phone? You know the passcode. Just in case anything bad happens.”
“I’ll do that.”
Minty knelt on the floor beside the couch, stroking her hair back from her face until she heard Willa’s breaths begin to even out.
